{"id":18485,"date":"2022-07-07T17:00:38","date_gmt":"2022-07-07T15:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/?p=7344"},"modified":"2022-07-07T17:48:11","modified_gmt":"2022-07-07T15:48:11","slug":"how-to-help-your-garden-wildlife-in-a-heatwave","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/how-to-help-your-garden-wildlife-in-a-heatwave\/","title":{"rendered":"How to help your garden wildlife in a heatwave"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Megan Shersby\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 07 July 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Temperatures are rising each year, making it more vital than ever that we do what we can to help our local wildlife in extreme weather condition.<\/p>\n

Once again, charities are asking the public to think about putting out a supply of fresh water in their gardens or outdoor space, to help their local wildlife cope with the scorching heat.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile we sit back and relax in the outside with an ice-cold drink, generally revelling in an unusually sunny weather, our garden birds<\/a> might not be having such a good time,\u201d says Chris Calow, a wildlife advisor for the RSPB<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cTurning your outside space into a home for nature by doing simple things like topping up your bird bath<\/a>, creating a make-shift pond from a washing-up bowl<\/a>, or putting down a saucer filled with water could offer a vital lifeline to some of our much-loved garden birds that are already fighting against declines.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alongside drinking water, birds need water to bathe in order to keep their feathers in good condition. However, as natural water sources dry up, they may struggle to find this vital resource.<\/p>\n

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If you have hedgehogs in your garden, put out a shallow dish of water for them. \u00a9 Michael Partridge<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Water will also be needed by mammalian garden visitors \u2013 the British Hedgehog Preservation Society<\/a> says that offering fresh water (and meaty pet food) can be a lifesaver for hedgehogs<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It is advised that water bowls should be shallow, and that garden ponds have ways for hedgehogs (and other small mammals) to climb out if they fall in.<\/p>\n

Additional advice from the RSPCA<\/a> also includes:<\/p>\n